Family and Domestic Violence Discretion and Decision-Making Through the Perspectives of Social Workers and Victim-Survivors

Abstract

Social workers (SWs) employed in family and domestic violence (FDV) roles use their discretion and make decisions that impact victim-survivor (VS) outcomes and well-being. However, when working alongside VSs, discretion and decision-making remain unexplored in existing literature. This study examined social work discretion and decision-making in FDV contexts and its impacts on VSs. Interpretative phenomenological analysis underpinned eight semistructured interviews with SWs and VSs to explore experiences of discretion and decision-making within FDV contexts. The findings suggest a lack of discretion steers SWs down a standardized path of risk-averse practice, which works against VS needs.